If Hawaii equals surfing then Mammoth equals snowboarding. What some would call surfing on snow, snowboarding is probably the prime reason people go to Mammoth in the winter. Though they are the exact opposite in terms of climate the two regions are tied together by one sport...surfing...even if one is done on water and the other snow.
Mammoth reminds me more of the North Pacific Coast region than the California region because of its snow capped mountains and the beauty and bounty of landscapes. It is also somewhat isolated from the rest of the state much like the North Pacific Coast is isolated from the rest of the country. In the winter time many of the west to east passes are closed due to snow. The forests of Mammoth also remind me a lot of the North Pacific Coast region.
Mammoth Lakes is just about right in the middle of California on the eastern edge. When most people think of California they think beaches and Hollywood. Mammoth shows the states diversity. The state has the best of all worlds. It has great beaches in San Diego, great cities like San Francisco and great mountain and wilderness areas like Mammoth. 
The Paiute Indian tribe were one of the first group of people to populate the Mammoth Lakes region. Though it does not have much of a Southwest Border feel to the town, aside from your standard Mexican food restaurant, it does have a deep history of Indian culture. Take anyone of the guided tours and you will hear about the first people to navigate these canyons.
Mammoth Lakes could be considered the Empty Interior of California. It has large areas of sparse population, variations in topography and economic activities unevenly distributed and widely scattered. This is probably the reason many Californians visit here during the year...to get away from their busy lifestyles and enjoy the emptiness.
Mammoth does not have much at all in common with the Changing South. There are no plantations so slavery did not exist to the extent it did in the south. It is a rural vacation spot where any sort of agriculture is nonexistent. As far as changing, the only thing making any changes is the streams carving the valleys deeper.
Appalachia and the Ozarks have a bit in common with the Mammoth Lakes area. They are both secluded rural areas. They lack any sort of farmland because of the lack of flat areas and mountainous terrain. The area being surrounded by mountains helps promote isolation. That is one of the things I enjoy most when I visit. You can hike for miles and hear virtually nothing. You are quite isolated.
While calling it the Bypassed West might be a bit much, Mammoth Lakes definitely was passed as people moved to the coast of California. The Bypassed East was known for its fishing and trees. That is something that Mammoth is known for also. Look out for bears if you are hiking through the forests. The bears are probably more scared of you, though they have been known to try to steel your fish. Opening day for trout season is a busy day in Mammoth. If you are a fisherman and it definitely needs to be added to your bucket list. 
The only thing manufactured in Mammoth is fun. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, snow mobiling, hunting, running, shopping, eating or just relaxing. I may even be considered by some the North American Manufacturing Core of Fun.
Mammoth Lakes lacks all of the site characteristics of a Megalopolis. As you can see from the view looking down on Twin Lakes it lacks a coastal location, it does not have a harbor, the year round temperatures are not mild or moderate and the terrain is nowhere near flat or gently rolling. Luckily Mammoth does lack the problems associated with a Megalopolis. There is plenty of fresh water and pollution is practically nonexistent...unless everyone is burning wood in their fireplaces all at the same time in the winter.
Mammoth Lakes is still waiting for the settlement expansion to hit. It may have something to do with the mountainous terrain or the low winter temperatures. The manufacturing jobs are nonexistent so there is no threat of a population boom. Certain times of the year you can find a trail and hike for hours without seeing a single person. This is the reason I retreat there as often as possible.
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mammoth Lakes is dominated by high mountain peaks and dense forests. High annual snow fall means year round streams and beautiful clear lakes. The winter months do not get much above freezing during the day. The summer months top out in the mid to upper 70's. Two places that must be visited while in Mammoth are pictured here. To the left is Devil's Postpile National Monument and below is Rainbow Falls.
